Check out time is 11am. We were ready to leave by 945. No check out, breakfast.
Off to some such boulangerie of a sort for lukewarm lattes and tasty croissants. Which fully describes breakfast.
This is our last morning in Quebec, and we have to be back for dinner at the neighbors tonight, so our morning wandering here will be cut short. We gotta exit stage left no later than one pm.
After breakfast we got back to the hotel. Checked out. Dumped our bags in our car and commenced to wander Quebec.
Our goal was to find things we hadn’t yet seen in the prior two days. We took about 90 minutes to walk around. That’s about the limit and still get back home timely.
So after that we got the car and headed for the homeland. Drive is about four hours.
About the time we got driving a torrential rainstorm started. The Twin is an old car. Drives fine but the wipers are only 40% effective. It makes driving fun. I can’t see, the car floats on the wet hiway, and the front end shakes. There’s something about an old car.
Well, I have spoken before about long car rides. This one is truly no different. The scenery through this part of Canada is really boring. Nothing to look at. The businesses and houses are dull. Does not speak well for Canada. If I had not just been to Quebec City I might judge all of Canada in this.
About an hour and a half into our trip we stopped at McDonalds. It was fun. Everything looks just like it does in the states. It’s comforting. I stepped up to the cashier, placed my order, and got a blank stare. Turns out, the cashier spoke no English. No one here in the Mcs spoke English. It took ten minutes for “small fry, large soda, and a water”. Then fun part. I pick up my order when they call my number. In French. And the place was packed to the gills. I had to pay attention and really listen. I did manage to get my order.
Back on the road. No excitement till we hit the border. The border was quiet. Very few vehicles and only one border agent. So, one line and one agent doing an overly thorough job equals a slow traverse through customs. Very slow. Four cars in front of us, 30 minutes.
Finally through. First thing I notice about the US is we have shitty roads. The Canadian roads were nice. No potholes, or cracks. The US roads were crap. Falling apart. Why can’t we fix our roads like the canucks? Why?
The 100 or so miles from the border to Madison are isolated and completely rural. Mostly just forest. Every 10 miles or so is a moose crossing sign. So for the entire trip Emily and I had our eyes peeled looking for Moose. We scoured the sides of the road hoping for a sight. Well, nothing. I kinda wonder if the signs are tourist traps.
Well in spite of not seeing any moose, we still got home. Everyone was next door for a last supper. Jason and Tommy, their 4, Hank and Beth and Nancy. The two of us. We really had a great time. Great food and great service. They had the kids do prep and serve. Great idea, use your kids as slaves. The evening was a success and they will all be gone tomorrow. Summer is rapidly coming to an end.
We headed home late and did not stay up cleaning. That will be Monday.